TV Antenna Installation

TV

 

Replace old or broken TV antennas

TV antennas don’t last forever. Whether through exposure to the elements or being used as a perch by birds, your antenna will eventually need replacing. But it may not be as simple as swapping over the TV antenna head. We assess three key existing components for usability. These are cabling, mounting hardware and antenna position.

The coax cabling that connects to the TV antenna could be old or defective. Utilising such a cable can affect the signal strength & quality resulting in unreliable reception. When installing a replacement TV antenna, we’ll inspect the existing cabling for faults. If any defects are found, a new coax cable will be run from the TV antenna into the roof space.

The mounting hardware has a habit of rusting and can weaken. Wooden fascia boards can rot causing fascia masts to be less secure. Using a compromised mounting bracket is a sure way to have the antenna come crashing down. We inspect the existing mounting hardware for any signs of damage and move or replace it as needed.

Over time, trees and buildings can rise up and block the TV signals. The position of the old antenna may not be optimal anymore. When replacing a TV antenna, we test the digital TV signal strength and quality. This will determine where we position the new antenna to get the best reception possible.

When replacing a TV antenna, we consider all the variables to ensure good reception and the longevity of the new antenna. So, if you’re looking at replacing your TV antenna or need advice, please don’t hesitate to call us.

Mounting brackets for TV antennas

We use three main types of mounting brackets when installing a TV antenna. Which bracket we use will depend on the building construction, where to position the antenna for optimal signal strength and customer preference.

A fascia mast or “hockey stick” is a galvanised mast with a 90 degree bend. It has a mounting plate at the short end and attaches to the fascia board, which is located under the gutter. This mast is only suitable for a timber fascia. We use this mast in locations with clear line of sight to the TV towers.

A tripod mast mounts on top of the roof and come in two varieties. One for tiled roofing and the other for galvanised or Colorbond roofing. These mounting brackets have a flat metal base that sit on the roof and attaches to the internal timber framing with screws. A mast then connects to the base. We typically use this mast where extra height is desirable or where a fascia mast is not suitable.

A chimney bracket is used oddly enough on chimneys. It consists of a U shaped bracket that attaches to the chimney with a wraparound metal strap. A mast then secures to the bracket. This bracket has the advantage of being able to support a longer mast than the other types.  We primarily use chimney brackets around the inner-city of Melbourne where the TV antennas require extra height due to the surrounding buildings.

Our choice of mounting bracket will be based on the safest way to install the TV antenna followed by getting you the best reception possible. We understand you may have concerns about the visibility of the TV antenna and mounting bracket. Where practical, we’ll try to minimise the profile of the antenna and maintain the aesthetics of your home.

Hiding the cables from a TV antenna installation

When conducting a TV antenna installation, we try to hide the coaxial cabling. We usually run the cable down the mounting bracket, into the roof space and then down the wall cavity to the TV socket. In situations where we have easy access to the roof and wall cavities, the coax cable can effectively be concealed. However not all TV antenna installations are so simple.

Internal walls present us with a problem. There is no natural cavity to drop the cable down. We could run the cable around the skirting board, but it is a little unsightly. To overcome this problem, we need to drill through a series of noggins. These are horizontal pieces of timber framing inside the wall, to which the plaster is attached. We use a long drill bit to bore a hole down through the timber framing, providing access for the cable. Our technicians take great care when drilling through the noggins to avoid accidentally drilling through the plaster wall. This process takes us a considerable amount of time and effort but hides the cable.

If we can’t access the roof space, we will need to run cabling on the surface. However, we strive to make this as inconspicuous as possible. We attach the cable to the brickwork neatly and if possible, will do so behind a down pipe or a blindside of the house. If the building is on stumps, we can potentially conceal the remaining cabling under the house.

The structure of your house and the location of your TV sockets will determine if the cabling can be concealed. Our technician will discuss your options and provide a tidy, professional installation. Although hiding all the cabling may not to possible, we’ll do our best to ensure you’re happy with your TV antenna installation.

Prewire TV antenna Cabling

The installation of TV antenna cabling is much easier without any plasterboard. When a building is at frame stage, we can pretty much run a cable to any location within that building. However, once the plasterboard is on, the ability to run cabling can be limited or is virtually impossible. There are two situations where this is especially true. Internal walls and multi-story buildings.

A plastered internal wall has no cavity in which to run a cable. Before plastering, we can easily drill holes in the exposed timber frame and thread the cable through. After plastering, a complex drilling operation is required to bore holes down through the noggins to provide access for the cable. We can only drill down an internal wall with roof access. This process can take a considerable amount of time and will increase the cost.

A multi-story building can present even more problems. Any floor of the building without roof or underfloor access will only have the external walls available to run cabling. And that’s if there’s an accessible cavity. Internal walls on the lower floors are basically impossible to drill down. The only real way of running and hiding the cable would be to cut the plaster and expose the timber frame to drill. Repair costs of doing so would no doubt be severe.

So, if you’re building or renovating a house, we highly recommend the installation of all internal TV antenna cabling before the plastering. You may even want to consider cabling to multiple locations within a room in case you wish to move the furniture around. We can also prewire the cabling for phone, data and NBN.